Access Restricted to Northwestern Law CommunityZero Tolerance
As a result, in part, of a rash of school shootings in recent years, school
systems have put in place rigid standards of behavior for students. But
many times as the result of what are known as "zero tolerance'' rules,
students are penalized for relatively minor infractions such as violating
a dress code because a shirt was not tucked in, or taking a knife out
of a lunch box to slice an orange rather than for a serious weapons offense
like carrying a gun.
Together with volunteer attorneys and the American Bar Association, the Children and Family Justice Center has been challenging the disciplinary policies of the Chicago Public Schools, which in 2001 suspended 23,000 students.
